500px 2018 Data Breach: What Happened and What Was Leaked

In June 2018, 500px, a prominent online photography community known for connecting photographers and enthusiasts worldwide, suffered a massive data breach. Nearly 15 million users had their personal information exposed, including email addresses, names, usernames, gender, dates of birth, locations, and password hashes. The intrusion went undetected for months, and by the time it came to light, detailed user profiles had already been compromised. This breach affected both avid hobbyists and professional photographers who used 500px to showcase their work and interact with the global photography community.

What Kind of Data Was Leaked in the 500px Breach?

The 500px breach compromised a variety of sensitive user details. Exposed fields included usernames, email addresses, hashed passwords, salted password hashes, first and last names, complete birthdates, country and city information, and, in some cases, data from social media profiles linked to 500px accounts.

• Username
• Email address
• Hashed password and password salt
• First and last name
• Full birthdate
• Country and city of residence
• Social profile details (where linked)

When Did the 500px Breach Happen?

The breach occurred in early June 2018, but it was several months before the incident was publicly reported and disclosed by 500px. Many users only learned their information had been compromised well after the initial incident. The timeline highlights how breaches sometimes take time to detect and fully investigate before all the details become public knowledge.

How Many Users Were Impacted?

The security incident affected 14,870,304 user accounts on the 500px platform. Both amateur and professional photographers worldwide were included in the exposed database, spanning a wide range of demographic profiles and geographic locations.

Timeline of the 500px Data Breach

• June 2018: Unauthorized access to the 500px user database occurred. Sensitive account information was extracted by malicious actors.
• Following months: The breach went undetected, with no immediate public disclosure.
• 2019: News of the breach began to surface as security researchers and 500px themselves investigated and informed affected users.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 500px Data Breach

What happened in the 500px data breach?

In June 2018, 500px experienced unauthorized access to its user database, resulting in the exposure of almost 15 million user profiles, including email addresses, names, usernames, hashed passwords, birthdates, locations, and linked social profiles.

How many users were affected in the 500px breach?

The breach impacted 14,870,304 user accounts on the 500px platform, exposing a large segment of its global user base.

What information was exposed in the 500px data breach?

The exposed data included usernames, email addresses, hashed and salted passwords, first and last names, full birthdates, cities, countries, and—where linked—social profile information.

When did the 500px breach take place?

The unauthorized access and data extraction occurred in June 2018, but public disclosure and notification followed months later as investigations progressed.

How can I check if I'm in the 500px breach?

You can check if your information was part of the 500px breach by utilizing the DeHashed search engine.